# gitignore | GitHub | Knowledge Base | Instagit

A collection of useful .gitignore templates

GitHub Stars: 173k

Repository: https://github.com/github/gitignore

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## Articles

### [How Versioned Templates Work for Different Framework Versions in GitHub's Gitignore Repository](/github/gitignore/how-do-versioned-templates-work-framework-versions)

Discover how versioned templates in the github gitignore repository manage framework versions using evergreen files and legacy release folders for seamless integration.

- Tags: internals
- Published: 2026-02-24

### [How to Contribute a New .gitignore Template to the GitHub gitignore Repository](/github/gitignore/contribute-new-gitignore-template)

Contribute a new gitignore template to the GitHub gitignore repository. Learn how to fork, add your file, and open a pull request with clear documentation and rationale.

- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-02-24

### [How to Add Community-Contributed .gitignore Templates to Your Project](/github/gitignore/add-community-gitignore-templates)

Easily add community .gitignore templates to your project. Copy and merge templates from the github/gitignore repository for efficient version control setup. Enhance your workflow today.

- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-02-24

### [How to Debug Why a File Isn't Being Ignored by Git: A Complete Guide](/github/gitignore/debug-why-file-not-ignored)

Debug why a file isnt ignored by Git. Use git check-ignore -v to find the exact rule or missing rule. Get your .gitignore working perfectly.

- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-02-24

### [How to Ignore Compiled Output Files Like .class, .o, .exe, and .pyc Using GitHub's gitignore Templates](/github/gitignore/ignore-compiled-output-files)

Learn how to ignore compiled output files like .class .o .exe and .pyc in Git. Use GitHub's gitignore templates to keep your repository clean and focused on source code.

- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-02-24

### [How to Use .gitignore with Docker and Containerized Applications](/github/gitignore/use-gitignore-with-docker-containers)

Learn to use .gitignore with Docker and containerized apps. Exclude build artifacts cache and local overrides from version control for cleaner repositories and efficient workflows.

- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-02-24

### [How to Ignore Temporary Files Globally in Git Using github/gitignore Templates](/github/gitignore/ignore-temporary-files-globally)

Learn to globally ignore temporary files in Git by configuring core.excludesfile with github/gitignore templates. Automate exclusions for all your projects effortlessly.

- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-02-24

### [How to Create and Use Language-Specific .gitignore Templates from the GitHub Collection](/github/gitignore/create-use-language-specific-gitignore-templates)

Learn to use language-specific gitignore templates from GitHub. Copy files directly or combine with global templates to ignore editor and OS artifacts in your projects.

- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-02-24

### [How to Exclude Log Files from Version Control Without Ignoring All .log Files](/github/gitignore/exclude-log-files-version-control)

Exclude specific log files from version control without ignoring all log files. Use negative patterns in gitignore to selectively include files and directories while ignoring others.

- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-02-24

### [How to Ignore Vendor Directories in PHP, Go, and Other Dependency Folders](/github/gitignore/ignore-vendor-directories-php-go)

Easily ignore vendor directories in PHP, Go, and other dependency folders. Learn how to add vendor lines to your .gitignore file and streamline your Git workflow for cleaner repositories.

- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-02-24

### [How to Handle .gitignore in a Monorepo with Multiple Packages](/github/gitignore/handle-gitignore-in-monorepo)

Master monorepo .gitignore strategies for multiple packages. Learn to combine root and package-specific files using GitHub templates for complete coverage and efficient version control.

- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-02-24

### [How to Ignore Build Artifacts in Compiled Languages: Best Practices from github/gitignore](/github/gitignore/best-practice-ignore-build-artifacts-compiled-languages)

Learn the best practice for ignoring build artifacts in compiled languages. Find out how to exclude object files, binaries, and debug files using .gitignore templates from github/gitignore.

- Tags: best-practices
- Published: 2026-02-24

### [How to Ignore Environment Variables and Secrets Safely in .gitignore](/github/gitignore/ignore-environment-variables-secrets-gitignore)

Safely ignore environment variables and secrets in .gitignore by adding patterns like .env and .env.* while keeping .env.example. Learn how to verify your rules with git check-ignore.

- Tags: best-practices
- Published: 2026-02-24

### [How to Use Wildcards and Glob Patterns in .gitignore Files](/github/gitignore/use-wildcards-glob-patterns-gitignore)

Master wildcards and glob patterns in gitignore files. Learn to use *, **, ?, and [] effectively to ignore files and directories, optimizing your Git workflow. Avoid accidental commits with expert tips.

- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-02-24

### [How to Ignore IDE-Specific Files Like .vscode and .idea in Git](/github/gitignore/ignore-ide-specific-files-vscode-idea)

Easily ignore IDE-specific files like .vscode and .idea in Git using templates from github.gitignore. Keep your repository clean and focused on project code.

- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-02-24

### [Best .gitignore Setup for React and Next.js Projects: A Complete Guide](/github/gitignore/best-gitignore-for-react-nextjs)

Discover the best .gitignore setup for React and Nextjs projects. Learn to ignore node_modules, build outputs, and secrets for cleaner repositories and efficient development.

- Tags: best-practices
- Published: 2026-02-24

### [How to Ignore Python Bytecode Files and `__pycache__` Directories in Git](/github/gitignore/ignore-python-bytecode-and-pycache)

Easily ignore Python bytecode files and __pycache__ directories in Git. Add specific patterns to your .gitignore to keep your repository clean and focused.

- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-02-24

### [How to Ignore Files Already Tracked by Git: A Complete Guide to Stopping Version Control](/github/gitignore/how-to-ignore-files-already-tracked-by-git)

Stop Git from tracking files. Learn how to ignore already tracked files by removing them from the index and updating your gitignore file.

- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-02-24

### [Global vs Project-Specific .gitignore Files: What's the Difference?](/github/gitignore/difference-between-global-and-project-specific-gitignore)

Understand the difference between global and project-specific .gitignore files. Learn how to configure gitignore for all your repositories or just one.

- Tags: deep-dive
- Published: 2026-02-24

### [How to Ignore node_modules in a Git Repository](/github/gitignore/how-to-ignore-node_modules-in-git)

Stop Git from tracking Node.js dependencies. Add node_modules to your gitignore file and keep your repository clean and efficient.

- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-02-24